More Community Hubs planned for South Cambridgeshire

More Community Hubs are coming to South Cambridgeshire to support residents during the cost of living crisis.   

South Cambridgeshire District Council has appointed Cambridgeshire ACRE to support Community Hubs across the district for a further two years, thanks to nearly £200,000 of funding from NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, part of our local Integrated Care System. 

The funding will be used to support the development of existing hubs and to allow new Community Hubs to open their doors. Additionally, three new Village Agent roles are being introduced. These will be local people, embedded in their community, who will support the health and wellbeing of others.  

The hubs offer residents somewhere to socialise, take part in new activities and to receive information on cost of living support such as how to reduce bills and access financial support, as well as how to stay healthy and well. 

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Bill Handley, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System and Cambridgeshire ACRE to deliver Community Hubs across South Cambridgeshire. The Hubs have proved themselves to be so valuable in bringing people together for mutual support. I hope that our residents will continue to make full use of these hubs not only as a place to meet up with friends but to receive helpful advice and support on a range of topics. 

“We’re very grateful to the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System for providing the further funding to allow us to continue this support, and to Cambridgeshire ACRE and its volunteers for their fantastic support to the Hubs themselves.” 

Kit Connick, Chief Officer Strategy & Partnerships with NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, part of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System, said: “We’ve heard firsthand from local people that the rising cost of living is impacting their health and wellbeing. Concerns about money can make it more difficult to buy and prepare healthy food, reduce people’s ability to pay for activities to stay fit and healthy, as well as causing stress and worry. 

“We’re pleased to continue our financial and practical support for Community Hubs and are confident they will continue to be one of the ways we can support and improve local people’s health and wellbeing.”

Cambridgeshire ACRE’s, Chief Executive, Kirsten Bennett, said: “We’re proud to have worked with volunteers from communities across South Cambridgeshire to develop and run Community Hubs that allow people to share friendship, community warmth and offer each other much-needed support. The number of people attending Community Hubs and offering their support as volunteers shows that community spirit is alive and well in South Cambridgeshire.” 

One year ago, the Council announced plans to support a number of Warm Hubs that would operate across community spaces in the district where residents would be able to enjoy a safe, warm and friendly environment. Over 16,500 visits were made by residents last winter.  

Following the successful implementation of the Warm Hubs project, 13 Warm Hubs have now evolved into Community Hubs, receiving 11,216 visits from April to July. 

Cambridgeshire ACRE leads a wider Community Hubs Network that operates across the Fenland, East and South Cambridgeshire District Council areas. A full list of Community Hubs can be found on Cambridgeshire ACRE's website.